Jobs boost as supermarket confirmed as anchor tenant of 130,000 sq ft retail development

Supermarket group Morrisons has been confirmed as anchor tenant of a new 130,000 sq ft retail development in Liverpool, a move which will create 200 jobs.

St. Modwen, owner, developer and asset manager of Kirkby Town Centre, said a revised planning application will now be submitted to Knowsley Council to update the existing proposals to reflect the specific requirements of Morrisons, which will launch a 45,000 sq ft store.

St. Modwen has been working with the supermarket to finalise the design of the new store.

A 450-space car park will be provided for shoppers in front of the store and the other large new retail units.

Paul Batho, projects director at St. Modwen, said: “After months of speculation, we are now in the position to confirm that Morrisons will be the anchor supermarket in Kirkby. This is excellent news. Local people have been calling out for a new supermarket in the town centre for many years.

“Morrisons will enhance the range of shopping available in Kirkby and meets the needs of local people. It will boost the local economy, creating new jobs during construction and in the supermarket when it opens, as well as bringing more shoppers and other local businesses to the town.”

Morrisons senior property manager, Richard Bakes, said: “We’re really pleased to be involved with this important development for Kirkby and will work closely with Knowsley Council and St. Modwen to deliver the new store. This is the first step in the planning process and we look forward to creating hundreds of local jobs and serving the Kirkby community.”

With an anchor confirmed, St. Modwen said it will now start talks with other national retailers interested in occupying the other new shops being created.

The redevelopment will complement the existing town centre shops and will include improved pedestrian links, car parking, new public realm and landscaping. St. Modwen has also signed an agreement with Reel Cinemas who are set to replace the former library on Newtown Gardens as part of a new leisure scheme.

Work is now underway to demolish 150,000 sq ft of derelict buildings, including the former ‘In Shops’ market, Gala Bingo hall and the site of the former Asda. The cleared site will make way for the new supermarket, large shop units, a pedestrian walkway that will link the existing town centre with the new development and additional car parking.

Land south of Cherryfield Drive facing onto Newtown Gardens would be used as a temporary car park during construction.

Subject to planning, construction work should start early next year with completion scheduled for 2019.